VOM-USA Prayer Update for March 29, 2013

The Voice of the Martyrs USA: www.persecution.com

Sierra Leone—Armed Men Attack and Rob VOM Worker
Source: VOM Sources

Ephesians 6:10–11

Thieves entered the compound of a VOM partner in Sierra Leone last week and attacked and robbed him. They stole the battery from his car as well as the home’s generator. “They were well armed and could have harmed me if I made an attempt to stop them,” he said. “Please keep our family in your prayers. My concern is that the Lord keep me and my family under his mighty arm. I have made up my mind to remain a preacher and follower of Christ, and nothing will change this. May the Lord continue to strengthen all the persecuted in Jesus’ name.” Like several other nations in Africa, Sierra Leone is under growing pressure from Islamists who seek to Islamize the country. Incidents of persecution against Christians also continue to increase. Police promised to investigate the incident.

Sri Lanka—Repeat Attack on Persecuted Pastor’s Home
Source: Release International

2 Corinthians 5:1

A large mob attacked a Sri Lankan pastor’s home recently, while he was away at a court hearing related to a previous attack on his home. Pastor Pradeep Kumara was in Colombo when the attack occurred, but his wife, Aruna, and their two children were trapped in their home for three hours while the mob rioted, demanding an end to church services in the village. The mob ordered Aruna to come out of the house and promise to stop holding worship services in the church, and our contacts report that she was injured in the incident. Although police were called, they were unable to control the mob. Pastor Pradeep and his family started a church more than 10 years ago in the south of the country, where there are few Christians. They were forced to move six times in four years, and at one point their house was firebombed.

Kazakhstan—Court Orders the Destruction of Christian Literature
Source: Forum 18 News Service

Isaiah 40:8

A court recently ordered the destruction of 121 Christian books that police confiscated from a Christian in the northern Akmola Region. On Oct. 20, 2012, Vyacheslav Cherkasov was arrested for offering Christian literature to passersby on a street in his town. During the arrest, police seized a suitcase containing Christian literature from his parked car. The printed materials included Bibles, children’s Bibles, and other books and leaflets on the Christian faith, primarily in the Kazakh language. A justice ministry official in the capital of Astana explained that all the confiscated books, including the Bibles, will most likely be burned.

China—VOM Project